"It is, after all, mostly little, common things that make up our lives."
--Elisabeth Elliot

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Go ahead...make my day!

It really is the little things that put a smile on my face.

I was walking into the grocery store this morning after a particularly trying conference with Bubba's teacher. I had exactly 10 minutes to get to work but I needed a pop...and a doughnut...way more than I needed to be on time for work.

Walking with my head held high (something I do when I am trying to convince the world...and myself...that I am okay) and my hands fiddling with my van keys, I headed towards the entrance. A man (it feels weird to me to call people my age men and women--I just don't feel that grown up) was walking out of the the exit and straight towards me. He got a big smile on his face when he saw me and then and there I realized that I knew him although I couldn't place his name. I hate when that happens. This one seemed to be a blast from my past, but not an important enough one for me to readily remember.

"Well, that looks like trouble coming my way," he exclaimed, his smile getting even wider.

I smiled as a retort flew from my mouth. "As always."

I once again tried to place his face with a name in the file cabinet of my mind but the search came up empty.

"How's it going?" I asked in the way of polite passing conversation. My feet kept moving toward the entrance with the urgency of the need to feel that sweet nectar sliding down my throat and releasing the tension that had built up in my spine.

"Good," was his reply as we passed each other's shoulders.

"And I see you're looking as good, as always," he added to my back.

I was so stunned by the comment that I didn't even have the courtesy to thank him, let alone add a likewise comment. I just continued walking, a large smile forming on my face.

It was something so miniscule that I probably will forget it within a days time but for that moment, that instant, that man whom I should have known did exactly the thing that I had been needing. It turns out that I didn't need a pop...I needed a smile. And his confident boldness gave me just that. Something to smile about. A reason to hold my head high.

And now that I think about it, I should have looked back. I am sure that had I done just that, I would have found him admiring the view as he watched me go. But then again, if you remember, I am not much into cat calls and the neanderthal ways of men.

I still can't remember his name or even where I know him from but...

...thank you mysterious shopper. Thanks for the smile on my way to work.